apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Based on a single photo and a brief blurb, it's hard to know exactly what the problem is for the owners, or how it might be solved. Who knows the actual space, or the owners' needs? I guess I would suggest hanging some art, adding a credenza, changing the rug...

looks like you need a taller piece or two and/or big art like over the couch. Also, I put away all the bottles and display a larger vase or other collection. Throw pillows and/or patterned rugs might help too. And a plant or two.

You need to put more art on the walls. Larger pieces will help create a visual separation of the rooms and also add more intimacy to each respective area. I would suggest you pick something bold to play off the great wall color!

I agree with the art suggestion.

Love that paint color- what is it?

I don't like the chandelier. It seems a bit lost.

I imagine something big and bright white, hung lower.

what don't you like about it? I think it's lovely.

I'd put a round mirror over the bar area -- all the lines in the room are square. A round shape would help soften these lines and add contrast.

I'd put a large artwork (or series) over the sofa. You need some color and visual/personal interest. Also: Consider pulling the sofa off the wall and put its back to the dining area to more clearly separate and define the spaces.

And How about a fabric table runner to pull some color from whatever artwork is hung?

You need a pattern of some sort. Everything is a shade of brown. Try a patterned rug under the table that incorporates the blue wall, and other colors.

And, of course, ART!

it appears in the picture that most of the furniture and rugs have a similar saturation of color. i would suggest some white or light-colored accents on the dining table and on the blue wall to provide some contrast.

I agree with the art suggestions. You will find that once you get some pieces that can pull color for all the various sources in your room that it will start to feel like a more cohesive space

More pictures would be useful.

Off the top of my head, I think you should get a proper bar set up or buffet in the dining room. The little cabinet in the corner and the small shelf aren't cutting it.

I can's see what's happening opposite your sofa but it looks like it may be shoved against the wall and looking at nothing. Create a conversation area by placing chairs opposite the sofa and depending on the space you have, pull the sofa from the wall. it looks like you could use a large piece of art or multiple pieces or art above the sofa.

Add plants around the living room and cut flowers to the dining room table to give the spaces some life.

I'm sure others will have great ideas. I don't think your place looks bad; it just needs some final touches.

Art! Avoid too many posters / prints and stay out of established galleries.

Go to exhibitions, independent coffee houses, and charity auctions.

Some floor pillows would be nice, but judging by the bar you may have navigation problems there.

If not, get some mobiles. They are more temporary, they're cheap, and they're easy to install.

I would perhaps find a unit that your mini fridge might fit in, so as to hide that, and then either using the small bar that is hardly viewable in the picture to better display your bottles. I agree with hanging a mirror (above a reconfigured bar area). And perhaps moving the sofa so that it jets out from the wall and has a credenza behind it to- as the other comments have suggested- define the two spaces better. Then on the credenza you might place large vases or two lamps, or something with some height. Even a tord bontje paper curtain between the couch and credenza would work. The delicate nature of the curtain would also make the lighting over the dinning table more continuous.

Oh, and art on the walls, a must!

I'm in love with your wall color! Maybe a different rug under the dining table -- right now it's a version of your living area rug so the effect is oddly patchy. Second the art suggestion and definitely plants -- they make a huge difference.

I think you've made some great choices about defining the separate spaces in this big room- the area rugs help split it into "dining" and "living," but they're still cohesive.

I really like your dining set- it's very sophisticated. But is that a mini-fridge I see in the corner?? I think that this "college house-esque" appliance (though useful, I know) takes you a step in the wrong direction. If it has to be in that location, I would look into ways of blending it in. I think that instead of a little fridge and a little server, you could spring for a whole corner of matching cabinets in a deep color. They wouldn't need to be terribly expensive- Ikea makes some great buffet-height cabinets. This could disguise your fridge, give you some great storage space, and provide you with a whole corner of decorative surface. I like the "open bar" look you're going for- you don't need to put your bottles away. But how about putting a mirror behind them (and perhaps some subtle lighting) to make them really sparkle?

I think your major issue here is scale- little items are getting lost next to your huge blue wall and your solid, blocky furniture. Instead of lots of little things, you need decor with weight. A huge canvas or poster (not a series) over the couch, big round (and tall) vases or a large mirror on the corner buffet I've suggested, a floor lamp with a drum shade by the couch for some warmth and vertical line, and how about some great big green houseplants for a little life?

that fridge MUST be hidden. it makes the room very dorm-like.

I think bold artwork (either in size or color) would be the finishing touch.

I think you're on the right track, but I have a few thoughts:

I agree that you need art on the walls but, if budget is a problem, a mirror behind the couch and some framed, oversized black and white personal photos would work for now. OR you could frame a groovy, colorful fabric until you can get something else up there.

I'd also add a buffet or something taller with doors on the wall currently housing your bar. That way you can hide your bottles. If room allows, try floating the couch away from the wall or, depending on what you have opposite, putting it on an angle near the windows. Colorful throw pillows are a quick fix, too. Good luck!

One big killer piece of art (can be a cheap poster:) over the sofa will help. Make sure it adds more color than what's in the room now. And emhoop is right--the rug under the DR table is wrong. Too similar in hue to the table. I think you need to add a third strong color to the room with accents--maybe yellow? red?

And if that truly is a mini-fridge in the corner, it needs to go into a pantry or something, or be donated to a poor college student.

This is not going to be hard--you have some great elements and the room will come together nicely!

Does that door on the far wall close? I can't tell what it is, but it looks like there's a bedroom right there. I'd keep the door closed or, if there's no door or you don't want to/can't close it for some reason, go in for some kind of drape or fancy beaded curtain (we saw some last week) for the transition.

I don't know what the rest of the room looks like off to the left, it looks like there's a window there, maybe you have a fireplace, tv, other furniture, but I don't know if rearranging is something you can plan to do or would help. I think it's a huge space, and it might help if you could create spaces. Here's the couch and a ballroom dancing floor right next to the dining room table. That's what I see. You have area rugs to define the spaces, but it needs a little more "here is here, and there is there, not still here but farther away" kind of things. Rearranging, some shelves, dividers. The living room is not conversational. You are on the couch, there's a coffee table, and you are shouting across the room maybe to other chairs. Bring them around. Maybe you have more space and you can put a nice easy chair off to itself or in a pair for a place to sit and read or something. It is hard to tell what else you might have to work with, except for a lot of room.

I like the dining table but the overhead light looks a little slim there. I would have something dimensional and proportional. The expanse and height of the room cannot take small things off by themselves. The bar looks tiny, the shelf or sideboard thing looks lonely and the things on it look small, ordinary, and insignificant. Maybe they are significant, they could be shown better. I think it is stuff that would not fit on the bar, so move the bar and make it all more prominent together. I don't know about having to fill the walls with art, if that is not your style. It would be one way to go, but you could also take your time finding art you love instead of slapping up semi-interesting things to fill the space.

I don't know your story, but it looks like you lived in a small space and without adding too much else, are still using your small space things and ideas. If you like it clear and minimal, I think you still have to define your areas at least, and clear out the tiny things and exchange them for one or two large, bold things. If you don't care for the minimalist approach, define your areas and make lists of things to put in the empty spaces, like shelves and seating at least, as well as proportional items and art.

First I have to wonder: Is the archway to the left to your kitchen or your entryway? If it's the kitchen your general arrangement is quite good - but if it's the entryway, I urge you should reconsider the placement of the dining area as this blocks the entrance to the overall space.

Other than that, I believe the major things lacking here are personality, pattern, scale and lighting: There are lots of "nice" things in there, but from what I can see, few of them are unique or particularly pleasing to look at - and the place is woefully underlit.

I see a bar-tray on a stand on the far wall and a wine cooler(?) in the corner - but they're out of place and overwhelmed in this huge space. You need a great big credenza with some interesting feature (Ornate handles? Figured woodgrain? Carved details?) to replace these objects.

Since you're insistent upon keeping the dining area furniture - supplement those anonymous leather chairs with a pair of upholstered dining armchairs - or even a couple of upright wingchairs - in a fabulous overscaled print such as Schumaker's Chiang Mai Dragon in Aquamarine http://www.fschumacher.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=173270 or Naturata Embroidery in Coral http://www.fschumacher.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=174180

Replace that rug in the sitting area with a larger (9x12 minimum) carpet with some pattern - such as a semi-antique Heriz - and get some side tables and table lamps over there.

Finally, some artwork and or mirrors on the walls - whether its several smaller pieces of art hung gallery style or a one large mirror in each area - but don't opt for the same type of thing in each area, ie: one large canvas.

And your art needn't be expensive;

http://www.absoluteabstractart.com/

It need not be original either, but fun.

OOps - I meant the archway to your right...

Get a rug for the dining room that has some sort of pattern and relates to the blue wall color.
switch the fridge for a credenza
hang some interesting art on the walls. on the right side, maybe an arrangement of differnet frames with photos.
interesting pillows for the sofa
floor lamp
if you have any more money, I would switch out the chairs.

Of course, I agree with the art recommendations.

I also agree that the chandelier looks "lost." I would use something with more dimension, maybe even a pair of more classic shaped chandeliers, to help define the dining space more.

You need more photos of your living room...it's too hard to tell the proportions of the room, placement of doors and windows, etc. from this one. Aside from that...the walks look a bit bare.

Also, some floor lamp by the couch will help. I love this Capiz one from target (only $38) http://www.target.com/Capiz-Floor-Lamp-Aqua/dp/B001CGX6KM/sr=1-3/qid=1236796554/ref=sr_1_3/184-7708610-6122504?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Acapiz%20aqua&page=1

1st of all-kudos for a great starting point!

art on wall-agreed-I'd do it over the sofa, avoid too many small pieces-they might get lost since you have such a big space

different colored rug (or no rug) to define the dining area some more

replace the shelf and fridge with a real buffet/bar dresser that's tall or horizontal against the blue wall and a mirror and thin side table on the white wall to catch and reflect more light into the room
(if you're not going to replace the fridge, hide it below a wider and longer shelf that you can drape completely to mimic a buffet-you can probably add another short bookcase below for more bar items-so they're not all on display at the top)

I think the orangy table doesn't work with your neutral color scheme. I also think it doesn't quite work with the sophisticated lighting above (which I love) I think you need to go more upscale on the table in a different color, or really contrast it-metal, darker brown, or glass and black, or more raw/unfinished looking (similar to your coffee table feel-but not too pottery barn looking) If you love it and aren't planning to replace it anytime soon, put on a purple runner-with some contrasting white vases or just a few short vases with flowers (or short dark brown bowls that are really sculptural/raw looking)

colored accessories around the room, art, vases, a color throw (non-neutral, either orange, olive green or burgundy)

I really like that chandelier so I understand why you chose it. The picture doesn't do it justice. I think art on the walls and a different or even no rug will make a difference. How about an armoire to hide the mini fridge and act as a bar?

The room has a good start but aside from the basics (wall color & furniture) it is devoid of personality. Once you integrate some personal touches I think it will come together more. I agree with others on bringing in a different rug or two. The dining area rug seems too close to the tone of the floor and disappears. The fridge needs to be hidden creatively - whether in a built-in or purchased furniture piece. Also, your room has a repeating pattern of blocks and colors. You may want to break that up a bit by bringing in some shapes other than rectangles and some lively art which incorporates your color scheme. Good basics - I'm sure it will be even more lovely when complete! Happy decorating...

Hmm.. The rug isn't doing much for that table. I'd use something with pattern to draw in the color of the wall. Also, I'd make some sort of furniture to house/hide the mini fridge. It could be something substantial that is a focal point of that part of the room.

Oh yeah, in addition to a patterned rug under the table I would also add matching patterned pillows on the couch to add some pop there and tie it all together.

I think a couple of picture ledges above the sofa with pictures, art, etc. balanced with come art on the wall above the bar (?). I also think a different dining room rug would be good. Something with a bit more color (the blue from the accent wall, with another accent color) . Then you just need something to go on the table, that has a pop of color...I would do a long silver tray with green apples or pears maybe. Otherwise you have a nice space.
Good Luck!

I agree with most of the above comments. I think you've got 90% of the room there, just need that last 10% of fluff! Throwpillows, artwork, and large-scale accessories. If the light is good, a large ficus tree is always great.

pitch the dining chairs, integrate the fridge into a cabinet or something and liven the walls up with color and art